Engine-starter



A. J. HANSON;

ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED APR.15| 1915.

1,394,619. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

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ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. 1918.

1,394,619. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

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Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

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ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION man APR. 15. 1918.

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ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1913.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

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ENGINE STARTER- APPUCATION FILED APR- 5| "918- 1,394,619. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

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ENGINE STARTER.

'APPLICATION man APR. as. 1918.

Patenfed Oct. '25, 1921.

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UNITED STATES T PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J. HANSON, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO TIDEWATER EQUIPMENT I CORPORATION, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

ENGINE-STARTER.

i .sa4,c19.

Application filed April 15,

To all 101 mm may concern:

Be it known that l, ALnnR'r J. HANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and i tate of Maine, have invented new and use tul Improvements in Engine-Starters, of with the 'tollowing is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved starter for internal combustion engines, Briefly stated, the starters, which are illustrated as an embodiment of the invention, comprise a starting spring. an electric motor for winding the spring, brake mechanism for restraining the spring, means arranged to release the brake, mechanism including an overrunnnig clutch arranged to transmit rotation from .the starting spring to the crankshaft of the internal combustionengine, an electric generator tor charging the storage battery from which the winding motor receives its current, and connections for driving the generator.v The winding motor and the generator are preferably carried by the casing of the starter, and for this reason the starter, the winding motor, the generator, the brake mechanism, the brakecontrolling mechanism, and the greater part of the transmission mechanism are capable of being assembled, sold and installed, as a unit, thus simplifying the handling and installing of the complete mechanism.

The invention comprises certain new and improved mechanisms that need not be enumerated at this time, but which are illustrated by the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section in a vertical plane through one form of starter embodyin the invention, the windmotor being shown in elevation, and the generator being shown partly in section and p; "tly in elevation as being fastened to and carried by the casing of the starter.

Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of a device that controls the brake mechanism for the starting spring.

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of the starter in a horizontal plane indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: represents a vertical cross-sectional view as indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. l, showing the brake mechanism in braking position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

1918. Serial No. 228,523.

Fig. 5 represents a sectional view similar to Fig. at, of a portion of the brake mechanism in the position of release.

Fig. 6 represents a front elevation of the complete starter on a smaller scale, and in cludes the transmission gearing by which rotation is transmitted from the main shaft of the starter to the crankshaft of the engine.

, Fig. 7 represents a diagram of the wiring by which the winding motor is operated and controlled.

Fig. 8 illustrates in side elevation a pre terred embodiment of my invention, a portion of the casing for the starting mechanism being in section.

Fig. 9 illustrates the spring and the gearing driven by the electric motor for storing power therein.

Fig. 10 illustrates the starter in front elevation and shows the gearing intervening between the starting and the engine shafts.

Fig. 11 illustrates the end of the engines'hatt and the gear thereon, and also a crank for manually spinning said shaft.

Fig. 12 represents a longitudinal section through the starter and the generator.

Fig. 13 represents a transverse section through the brake-drum and the motor.

Fig. 1e illustnates conventionally the electric circuits, including the motor, the generator, the storage battery, the lamps, a manual switch, an automatic switch and an armmeter.

Fig. 15 illustrates in plan view the brake mechanism.

Figs. 16 and 1'7 represent the brake mechanism in front elevation and show the brake as set and released respectively.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

Referring first to Fig. 6, one end of the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is indicated at 10. A gear 11 is atfixed to said shaft and is driven by an intermediate gear 12 which in turn is driven by gear 13 afiixed to the main shaft 1 of the starter. The said gears are inclosed in a gear case 15 which is made in two parts as shown by Fig. 8, and includes a detachable part 16.

The mechanism of the starter is inclosed in a casing which, in the present instance, comprises the two parts indicated at 17 and 18. The casing 19 of the winding motor is mounted upon and fastened to the part 17 of the starter casing, while the casing 20 of the electric generator is fastened to and carried by the part 18 of the starter casing. Part 18 is tubular or barrel-shaped, and contains the starting spring 21 which in the present form is helical. One end of the startershaft 14 is supported by an antifriction bearing 22 which in turn is supported by the part of the gearing casing. The other end of the starter-shaft is supported by the armature-shaft 23 of the generator, said armature-shaft being'supported by the casing of the generator. The starter-shaft and armature-shaft are provided with cooperative coupling portions by which rotation is transmitted from the former to the latter to operate the generator. In the present instance, said coupling portions comprise the transversely slotted end portion 25 ofthe starter-shaft, and the tongue portion 26 of the armature-shaft, and substantially the same kind of coupling would be produced by reversing the formations so as to provide the'tongue on the starter-shaft and to provide the slot incthe armature-shaft. or any other suitable form ofcoupling facilitates disconnecting and reconnecting the driving means for the armature-shaft when the generator is detached for any purpose and replaced. The part 18 of the starter casing, and the generator casing are provided'with cooperative circular shoulders at 27, whereby the two said casing elements are centered relatively to each other, and whereby the starter-shaft is centered relatively to the part 18'of the casing. The generator casing is fastened to thestarter casing by screws 28, and may be readily detached and replaced. The starting spring 21 is a close wound helix, the convolutions thereof touching each other throughout, so asto utilize the alternate elongatmg movement and shortening movement of the helix to actuate and control the brake mechanism hereinafter described. One end of the spring is connected by bolt 29 to a winding gear '30,

and the other end of the spring is connected by a bolt 31 to a sleeve-shaft 32 that surrounds the. starter-shaft and that is supported by the latter. It may be remarked at this time that the starter-shaft is capable of rotating relatively to the sleeve-shaft 32, that the sleeve-shaftrotates only when the starter is in action, and thatthe'startershaft 14 rotates with the sleeve-shaft and continues to rotate after the sleeve-shaft has stopped, so long as the crankshaft of the engine is'turned. The sleeve-shaft 32 is surrounded by a sleeve 33 which extends through the starting spring to: limit the radial contraction of the latter so that a positive driving connection will be estab lished between winding gear 30 and the crankshaft when the spring has been wound This and the latter is fastened to sleeve-shaft 32 I by said bolt and also by a key 36. r

The gear for transmitting rotation from the winding motor to the starting spring is shown by Fig. 1. The armature-shaft of the winding motor is indicated at 37. A driving pinion 38 fastened to the armatureshaft drives a gear 39 with which a pinion 40 is compounded; The latter pinion drives a gear 41 with which an elongated pinion 42 is compounded. Gear 42 meshes with and drives winding gear 30, and the latter is capable of sliding endwiseon sleeve-shaft 32 in consequence of the endwise elongation and contraction of the helix formed by the starting spring. The pinion 42 is long enough to maintain its driving engagement with gear 30 throughout the endwise transverse motion of the latter. 7 As the starting spring is wound, thereby increasing the number of convolutions, the winding gear 30 is forced positively from right to left,but, when the starting spring unwinds, the tendency of the convolutions to remain in contact with each other is sufficient to draw the winding gear from left to right. It is this endwise movement of the winding gear from right to left that moves the brake mechanism to the position of release, and the sleeveshaft 32 remains under the control of the brake until the winding gear has been moved far enough to release the brake.

As shown by Fig. 3, the left-hand end of the sleeve-shaft 32 is keyed to brake-drum 43 by keys 44. The peripheral surface of the brake-drum is surrounded by a brake-band 45. The brake-drum serves also as one member of an overrunning clutch that includes balls 46' and a clutch ring 47. This ring is supported and centered by the hub portion of a friction clutch member 48. Clutch member 48 is fastened to the starter-shaft by a key49 and abutment ring 50 is screwed into one end of the brake-drum 43, and a portion of clutch member 48 stands between the rings 47 and 50 and is clamped by the two said rings in consequence of end thrust of ring 47 when the brakeedrum is rotated The other end of rotation from the orankshafto't the engine to the armature-shaft of the generator.

The brake mechanism is shown by Figs. 4 and 5, Fig. at showing the mechanism in braking position and Fig. 5 showing said mechanism in the position of release. The direction of rotation of the brake-drum is indicated by an arrow in Fig. 4. The leading end of the brake-band is attached to a pin 51 and the controlling end of the bandis attached to pin 52. These pins are carried by companion levers 53 that act in unison as hereinafter described. Levers 53 are carried by a pivot pin 54 which in turn is carried by two companion toggle members 55. These toggle members are pivotally connected to companion toggle members 56 by pivot pin 57, the latter constituting the center joint of the toggle. The anchoring pivot of the toggle is a stationary pin 58, toggle members 56 being mounted upon said anchoring pin. Then the toggle mechanism is in brake-applying position and the center of pin 57 is moved from one side to the other side of a line intersecting the axes of pins 54 and 58, as shown in Fig. 5, pin 54. is thereby moved toward anchoring pin 58 a sufficient distance to cause the necessary angular movement of levers 53 to release or relax the brake-band. A helical torsion spring 59 (see Fig. 1) is arranged to exert its force upon toggle members 56 to move the toggle mechanism normally to the position shown by Fig. 4. such movement being limited by a stop pin 60, and by stop fingers 61 formed on the members 56. Pin is carried by tog glemembers 55.

When the starting spring is being wound, the winding gear 30 moves endwise as hereinbefore explained, and, in due course, said gear engages and actuated a lever 62. The fulcrum member of said lever is indicated at 63; One end of lever 62 is arranged to engage and act upon the toggle mechanism near the middle joint thereof, to move the toggle members to the position of release as shown by Fig. 5. The brake-drum is thus released after the starting spring has been wound to a predetermined degree, and, if the engine is sufficiently tree to respond to the stress of the starting spring, the brakedrum and the transmission mechanism hereinbetore described will be rotated by the spring through the medium of the overrunning clutch, and, if the engine and its auxiliary equipment is in operating condition. the engine will begin immediately to operate on its own power.

As the starting spring unwinds, the helix grows shorter, thereby retracting the winding gear from lever 62. This wou d enable the tog 'le mechanism, under the influence of spring 59, to reset the brake before the engine had received sutficient starting motion to cause the engine to perate on its own power. unless some means were provided to keep the toggle mechanism in its position ot release until the spring were fully unwound. For this reason I have provided lock-out mechanism whereby the toggle mechanism is held positively in its position of release until the starting spring is fully relaxed. For this purpose I have provided rockshait (i l (see Fig. 2). and arrange said rocksha'lt to coact with fingers 65 formed upon 'the toggie members 56. \Vhen the rockshatt occupies the angular position shown by Fig. a portion of it stands in the path oi return movement of the fingers 65. but the roclrshatt is cut away on one side as clearly shown by Figs. 2, 4 and 5. to leave clearance for the fingers when the rockshai t occupies the angular position shown by Fig. Referring to Fig. 2. a leaf-spring 66 is arranged to bear upon a lever 67 that is affixed to the reel:- shaft, the effect of the spring being to turn the rockshaft to the angular position shown by Fig. 5. Thus, when the toggle mechanism is moved from brake-applving position to its position of release. the fingers 65 release the rockshaft so that the latter may turn to locking position in response to the stress of spring 66. Brake releasing lever 62 may therefore be released by gear 30 without liability of premature resetting or". the brake, the release position of the brake mechanism being maintained thereafter by the rockshaft 64.

In due course it becomes necessary to turn the rockshaft in the opposite direction to enable the toggle echanism to return to braking position. accomplish this result by providing the rockshaft with another lever, which is indicated at 68. and by providing the winding gear 30 with one or more projections such as the studs indicated at 69 in Figs. 1 and 3. hen the win-ding gear occupies its position of rest, as shown by Figs. 1 and 3, the studs 69 occupy a vertical plane in registration with lever 68. but a slight movement of the gear from said position takes the studs out of registration with said lever. During the return movement of gear 30 to its position of rest. said gear tates and moves endwise at the same time. the endwise movement causing the studs 69 to return to the plane of registration with lever 68, and the rotative movement of the gear causing one of said studs to impart angular movement to the lever so as to turn the rockshaft to the position necessary to release the fingers 65 of the toggle members Upon such release of the toggle members the latter return t brakeapplying position as shown by Fig. 4.

A diagram of wiring for controlling the winding motor is shown by Fig. 7. In this figure. the winding motor is indicated conventionally at M, and a storage battery is indicated conventionally at B. Although the diagram does not include the wiring connections between the generator and the storage battery, it is to be understood that the lat ter will, in practice, be charged by the generator, as in the case of the starter disclosed in Figs. 8 e25 seq. The winding motor and storage battery are connected in series in a circuit thatincludes a manually operative starting switch 70. Terminal 71 of the starting switch is connected to one side of the batery, and terminal Z2 is connected to one terminal of the motor. the motor is connected by conductor '73 with the other side of the battery.

The starter ay bc operated as follows. Assuming that the starting spring is in relaxed condition asshown, a start is effected by closing switch 70. The winding motor is thus energized and winds the starting spring. If the engine responds readily to the action of the starting spring in due course; the spring will unwind as soon as the brake is re leased, but in case the crankshaft of the en gine does not turn over when the brake is released, the starting spring will provide a positive driving connection between the winding motor and the crankshaft as soon as the convolutions of the spring have contracted to the limit permitted by the sleeve The crankshaft will thus receive the full power of the winding-motor, and, as soon as the sticking of the engine has been overcome, the rotation of the crankshaft will be accelerated by the unwinding action of the spring. In either case, the operator will release thestarting switch as soon as he has knowledge that the engine is operating on its own power, the starter being thereby permitted to come to rest, but the shaft 14 continuing to rotate with the crankshaft to transmit rotation from the latter to the generator as hereinbefore explained.

1n the starter just described, the brake is tripped positively by the axial thrust of the winding gear due to the increasing number of convolutions of the main spring. I have illustrated and shall now describe a starter in which the brake is tripped by theexcess power stored in main spring of the volute type. In both starters, there are certain generic features which form the subject-matter of some of the appended claims and which will clearly be seenfrom the descrip tion of the second form of starter. In the present case, when the toggle is broken it is latched in its relaxed or released condition until the power has beentransmitted from the spring to spin the engine-shaft, and, when that has occurred, the toggle is automatically straightened to set the brake. For the purpose of releasing the brake, I make provision for breakingthe toggle by winding the spring beyond a predetermined point, in which case the torsional thrust of the brake-band bodily moves the toggle and The other terminal of thereby causes pivoted knock-off lever to engage and break the joint of the toggle.

- Instead of employing a helical spring, 1 utilize a volute spring 80, of which the outer end is attached to the barrel 81 by ascrew 82, and the inner end is secured to a sleeve by a fastening Set. (See Fig. 9.) The barrel is formed at one end with teeth to constitute a winding gear 85which is driven from the electric motor by a train of reducing gear-. comprising pinion 86 intermeshing with gear 5, gear '87 comooundedtherewith, and driven by pinion 88 which is compounded with a gear 89, the gear 89 being in turn lriven by a: pinion 90 on the motorshaft.

The stud-shaft 91 for pinion 86 and gear 87 mounted in the starter casing 92; and the shaft 93 for pinion 88 and gear 89 is mounted in the motor casing 9 1. The electric motor is shown in section in Fig. 18 but needs no specific description as any suitable electric motor, for which current may be supplied by a battery, can be employed. A brake-drum 95 is connected to the inner end of-the spring. It is attached by keys 96 to a. sleeve 97, on which the barrel is loosely journaled, and which is attached by keys 98 to the aforementioned sleeve 9. The starter-shaft 99 extends loosely through the sleeve 97 and is driven by the spring when the latter un- .vinds, through the medium of an overrunning clutch, which permits the said shaft normally to rotate in thesame direction to actuate the generator shaft, when the starters'haft is being driven by the engine. Said starter-shaft 99 is journaled in anti-friction bearings 100, 101, set in the ends of the starter casing, andits rear end is coupled to the rotor-shaft 10:2 of the generator. The br .e-drum 95 is hollowed to receive the silent overrunning clutch which may be of the usual. roll type, and. which, as illustrated, comprises the inner recessed member 103 fast upon shaft 99, an outer cylindrical member 104 fixed in the drum, and rolls 105, as illustrated in Fig. 13. The front end of the starter-shaft has affixed thereon a gear 106, and the engine-shaft 107 has a gear 108 fast thereon. Intermediate gear 109 intermesh in; with gears 106 and 108 (see Fig. 10) transmits rotation from one of said shafts to the other, or vice versa, as the case may be. As a matter of detail, I have shown, in Figs. 11 and 12, the gear 108 as being keyed upon a collar 111 pinned to the shaft 10. and have also illustrated the last-mentioned shaft as being threaded-to receive a studded clutch member 112 for engagement by a complenental member 113 on the end of theusual crank 114 by which th engine-shaft may be manually spun.

From the description thus far given, it is now apparent that, when the engine-shaft and the starter-shaft are at rest and power is being stored in the spring, on permitting the spring to unwind, the shaft 99v will be driven clockwise through the overrunning clutch, and will in turn spin the engineshaft through the gears 106, 109 and 108. As soon as the engine starts, power will be transmitted back from the shaft 107 to the starter'shaft, and to the rotor-shaft of the generator, the overrunning clutch permittingthe brake-drum to cease its rotation and to be locked or restrained by the brake mechanism to be subsequently described. It will be noted, by an inspection of Fig. 10, that the rotio of gear 106 to gear 108 is as 12 to 21, so that the engine-shaft makes nearly two rotations for each rotation of the startershaft, which is ordinarily sufiicient to start the engine. This ratio may be increased or diminished if desired.

The starter-shaft performs a function additional to those hereinbefore described; that is, it is utilized to operate the fan which is ordinarily employed for cooling the radiator of the engine. To this end, said shaft 99 has affixed on the end thereof, which projects beyond the gear case, a pulley 115 by which motion is transmitted by a belt 116 to a pulley 117 on the shaft 118 carrying the fan 119. The fan is therefore started in operation by the starter spring and is thereafter driven by the engine. The fan-shaft bearing is indicated at 120.

I shall now describe the automatic brake mechanism which normally holds the spring during the winding operation until sufficient power is stored therein to spin the engine-shaft, and which is tripped by a slight excess winding of the spring to release the latter for operation. This mechanism is shown in detail in Figs. 15 to 17, to which reference may now be made. The brakeband 121 which encircles the brake-drum is connected at its leading end to a pin 122 and at its trailing end to a pin 123. These two pins are carried by a pair of brake levers 124 which are located beyond the edges of the band and each of which is pivoted at its lower end by pivots 125 to a pair of toggle levers 126, 127. The pin 122 is located between the pin 123 and the two axially alined pivots 125. The levers 127 of each pair of toggles are pivoted upon a pin 128 passing through a block 129. Whenthe toggles are slightly past dead-center position, as shown in Fig. 16, the brake-band is set, or clamped upon the drum, butpwhen the toggle is broken as indicated in Fig. 17, the brake-band is released and the drum is free to rotate and the spring to unwind. The block 129 bears against a compression spring 130,which in turn bears against a fixed member 131 which is shaped to receive it and which is adjustable lengthwise of the spring and of the set toggle by a screw 132 passed through the side Wall of thestarter' case. The block has a positioning stud 133 entering the end convolutions of the spring. By this construction, when an excess torsional thrust is exerted upon the brake-drum and'band, the whole toggle may be moved lengthwise against the thrust of the compression spring 130. This lengthwise or bodily movement of the toggle is utilized in breaking the toggle. A bell crank, having one arm 134 bearing against the knuckle of one of the toggles and another arm 135 slotted to receive the pin 128, is pivoted upon a fixed pivot 136, so that, when the pin 128 is moved lengthwise or axially of the spring 130, the bell crank is rocked about its axis and the end of arm 134 breaks the toggle. A spring 137 (see Fig. 15), having one end attached to a pin 138 connecting the toggle members 127 and its other end to a sleeve 139 (Figs. 15 and 13), tends to return the toggle to its set position, but it is prevented from so doing by a latch which locks thetoggle in its open or broken position. The latch is indicated at 140, and it is fulcrumed upon a stationary pivot screw 141. It has a hook or stop adapted to engage a complemental hook or stop on one of the toggle members 127 as soon as the toggle is fully broken, and lock it, and thus hold the brake-band relaxed or released. Thereafter the drum rotates freely under impulsion of the starter spring. To reset the toggle, the latch is disengaged therefrom by a stud 142 on the end of the winding gear 85, which stud in its revolution engages an ear 143 projecting laterally from the free end of the latch. A leaf-spring 144, which tends to move the latch to active position, is secured to the inner wall of the starter case by a screw 145. To prevent accidental dislocation of the yielding block 129 and to limit the movement thereof under stress of the compression spring 130, the said case is formed with two hook-shaped members 146 in which the sleeve 139 is seated, as best shown in Figs. 13 and 15. To prevent undue movement of the brake-band and the relatively fixed ends of the brake levers 124, I employ a screw pin 147 which is screwed through a boss 148 in the case and has its inner end perpendicular to the pin 123. This pin is set to resist the thrust of the upper ends of the levers 134 due to the torsional thrust of the brake-drum and band thereon.

In Fig. 14 is illustrated the electric circuits, which comprise the electric motor M which effects the rotation of the winding gear 85 through the reducing gearing previously described, a storage battery B, and a manually-operated switch S by which the operator may close the motor circuit C. The generator Gr (which is started in operation by the starting spring and thereafter driven by the engine through the starter-shaft) is placed in a circuit C. The. lightin circuit C includesthe head and tail lights i L L,

I receive current. D indicates a switch that is arranged to be closed by a solenoid (Z in a first operation-starts the engine,

' as a result shunt circuit C? in series with the generator to close a circuit to the lamp switch S, and to the battery, for charging the latter. In the generator circuit C is indicated an ammeter A. W hen the generator is at rest, the operator, by closing switch S, connects the winding motor with the battery, to cause the operation of the starting mechanism. When the generator picks up enough speed to ex ceed the battery voltage, it closes switch D and is thus connected to the battery to charge the latter.

The operation of the starting mechanism is as follows:Assumingthe starting switch S to be closed, the winding motor M, transmitting winding motion through reducing gearing, winds the starting spring 80, the brake-band being clamped upon the brakedrum during the windingperiod. At this time the middle pivot of thebra-ke toggle is at or near the dead center position. lVhen the stored energy of the spring has increased to a point sufiicient to turn the brake-drum slightly, against the opposing stress of spring 130, the brake-band, still clamped upon the drum, swings lever 12% from left to right (Fig. 16), and moves the toggle mechanism bodily in the same direction. Pin 128, acting on the forked end of bell crank 134, 185, turns the latter, and the middle pivot or the toggle is thereby pressed downwardly to break the toggle and to place the latchin shoulder of member 127 behind thelatching shoulder of member 140. As this takes place the brake-band becomes fully released, and the full force of the startingspring is permitted to expend itself upon the starting shaft. The winding motor continues to rotate so long as the switch S is held closed, and, when a stud 142 on the winding gear trips the latch 140, spring 137 returns the toggleto brake-applying position. If the the driver may release the switch S, and any winding that may have occurred between the reset ting of the brake and the releasing of the switch S will be maintained by the balldetent l3). 7

I In case the engine should not have started of the first operation, the driver has merely-to keep the switch S closed, and in due course a repetitionof the starting cycle will occur. In any event, the driver may release the switch as soon as he is as sured that the engine is running.

In case the stud 142' should release the toggle latch 14:3 and. cause the drum to be clamped before the spring is completely unwound or relaxed, the spring will be again wound to and. beyond said predetermined pointto break the-toggle again and thereby [1 Beag e release the drum. The predetermined point to which the spring may be wound before causing the release ofthe brake-band is determined by the adjustment of the screw 132, andthe resistance of the compression spring 130 which governs the torque the brakeband necessary to break the toggle. The pressure of the brake-band upon the drum is governed by the adjusting screw-pin 147.

In case the engine-shait for one cause or another resists the power imparted to it by the starting spring when the latter is fully wound, the spring will'wind tight upon the sleeve 83 and form a direct drive from the motor to the engine-shaft.

Having thus explained the. nature ofmy said invention and described a way of mak ing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use,'what I claim is: r

1. An engine starter comprising a starting spring, transmission mechanism arrangedto be driven thereby, brake mechanism arranged to restrain said trainsmission mechanism, 1 said brake, mechanism' including a means arranged to setthe mechamsm' in braking position, means arranged to move said brake mechanism to release said transmission mechanism, means arranged to act automatically to lock said-brake mecha nism in release position, and means rcontrolled by said starting springand arranged automatically to move said locking means to unlock ,saidbrake mechanism.

2. ,An enginestarter comprising a star-ting spring, a winding gear, therefor, brake mechanism arranged to restrain said spring, said brake mechanism including a springarranged to set the-mechanism in braking .pos

sition, means arranged .to be actuated by movement of 7 said winding gearto move said brake mechanism to release position, means arranged to act automatically to lock the brake mechanism inrelease position, and means'arranged to be actuated by said windmg gear to move said locking means to unlock saidv brake mechanism;

3. An engine starter comprising a starting spring,a winding, gear therefor,'brake mechanism arranged to restrain said spring, said brake mechanism including a spring arranged automatically-to set the mechanism in braking position, means arrangedto be actuated by'overwinding the springto move said jbrake mechanism to release position, means arranged toact automatically to lock the brake mechanism in release position, and a'stop carried by said gear and arranged to act upon said lockingmeans inconsequence of rotative movement of the gear, to unlock said brake mechanismt 4. An engineestarter comprising'a starting spring, means for winding the spring, a spring-driven member,

a brake-drum and a brake-band for restraining said member, and a brake-setting mechanism arranged to be automaticall released by torsional thrust of the brake drum and band beyond a predetermined degree.

5. An engine starter comprising a starting spring, means for Winding the spring, a springdriven member, a brake-drum and a brake-band for restraining said member, a brake-setting mechanism comprising a toggle, and means operated by excess. torsional thrust of said brake band to break said toggle and release said band.

6. An engine starter comprising a starting spring, means for Winding the spring, a springdriven member, a brake-drum and a brake-band for restraining said member, a brake-setting mechanism comprising a toggle, means operated by excess torsional thrust of said brake band to break said toggle and release said band, and a lock to hold said toggle in broken condition.

7. An engine starter comprising a starting spring, means for Winding the spring, a spring-driven member, a brake-drum and a brake-band for restraining said member, a brake-setting mechanism comprising a toggle, means operated by excess torsional thrust of said brake band to break said toggle and release said band, a lock to hold said toggle in broken condition, and means operating automatically to move said lock and release the toggle.

8. An engine starter comprising a starting spring, means for Winding the spring, a spring-driven member, a brake-drum and a brake-band for restraining said member, a

brake-setting mechanism comprising a toggle and a spring for straightening said toggle, means operated by excess torsional thrust of the brake-band to break said toggle, and a latch for locking said toggle members in broken position.

9. An engine starter comprising a starting spring, means for winding the spring, a spring-driven member, a brakedrum and a brake-band for restraining said member, a brake-setting mechanism comprising a toggle and a spring for straightening said toggle, means operated by excess torsional thrust of the brake-band to break said toggle, a latch for locking said toggle members in broken position, and means operated by the Winding means for releasing said latch.

10. An engine starter comprising a starting spring, means connected to one end thereof for Winding it, a brakedrum connected to the other end of said spring to re strain it during the Winding of said spring, a brake-band associated With said drum, a brake-lever, a toggle, a block, pivots connecting said toggle to said lever and to said block, a spring exerting pressure upon said block, and a toggle breaking member actuated by yielding movement of said block, said elements being constructed and arranged to cause the automatic breaking of said toggle by torsional thrust of the drum and brake-band in excess of a predetermined torsional thrust.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature.

ALBERT J. HANSON. 

